Abstract:
The policy of restraining the physical expansion of the city of Bangkok in the Fifth National Economic and Social Development Plan arises out of two main problems; firstly, the unlimited growth of Bangkok has direct caused the shortages in the provision of urban public utilities and facilities; secondly, the uncontrolled expansion of the city area also means the invasion in to furtile agricultural land around Bangkok. The according strategies designated in the policy are to control the extent of land use, by using the green area to stop the continuous expansion of the city area, and emphasis the improvement in existing settlement, in order to increase the capacity of existing built-up areas for greater number of population in future. Klongsan District, one of inner district areas of the city is highly considered to be suitable area for redevelopment in according to sush improvement policy. At present, it is located in central business district near major commercial area and job opportunity location the residential zone in central area of the district can generally be described as condened settlement and in efficient with the intervention of many undeveloped pieces of land. Many building in the area can be seen in deterioration conditions. The distribution of public utilities and facilities is also unbalance and [insufficient] in same areas of the district. The construction of Somdej Pracho Taksin Maharaj Bridge and the new major road network joining both side river area have immense impact on the physical structure in the district and created the deterioration of old residential settlement, then turn into by pass area. The bridge and the new major road link this district with the main central business districts of Bangrak and Yannava. Consequently, Klongsan District has had greater accesibity and more potential for development. These potentialities can be spelled out as followed. 1. Its central location closes to many governmental and private offices, educational institutions and trading centers of Samphantawong Bangrak and Pratoomwun Districts, and industrial zone of Yannava, Rajaburand and Pasrichareon Districts. 2. The water front area of the district can be used for transportation, drainage system and recreational facility. 3. Transportation with in the district is reasonably convenient at present. There will be two electric railway lines pas through the area for mass transportation. 4. There still many undeveloped areas in this district along the new major road and the lower prices of land compare to the other side the city. Therefore, it is quite suitable that many patterns of land use: such as commercial area, industrial area and [warehouses], can be well developed in the district. Novertheless, special interest should be paid on the conservation of residential areas from being instruded by the unorganized expansions of economic activities. Living in this district has many advantages especially the shorter time and the lower cost of travelling to and from the city. Furthermore, if the policy of restricting the invasion of residential areas of the outer suburbs into the agricultural areas around Bangkok is to be fully realized, the best alternative for residential growth should be in the inner areas of the city such as the ones in Klongs Klongsan District. High density residential areas are proposed as the type of development. The concept of New Town In Town will be used to ensure the sufficient distribution of public utilities and facilities along with the suitable surrounding for living, recreation and economic activities. The selected areas for such development is the areas along Taksin Road. These areas have high potential for development. The existing low desity of buildings will make it easy to control and guide for the rapid changes including the provision the public utilities and facilities that will be induced in the near future. The development strategy give the first priority to infrastructure planning. The grid system will be use for street planning. In addition to economic, locational and environmental factors, each [type] of land use will be planned in accordance with the Bangkok Master Plan. The details include the mixture of trading areas with residential area along the main mass transportation lines. There will be more educational institutes and recreational centers distributed in the area. Especially, the water front area will be kept as open space which will be used as recreational facility. In conclusion, the planning strategies consist of reconstruction, redevelopment and conservation. This will give the best result in physical, socio-economic [aspect] if can follow this plan. However, these strategies will not be fully implemented without the cooperations from different governmental agencies and private sectors, together with the efficiency of the administrative system in [budgeting] and law regulations related to City Planning Act.